Unscientific planning of Kerala’s education system

16 Apr, 2014

As per the statistical figures of admissions for the academic year 2013-14, there were no takers for over 25,000 seats in the government aided and unaided schools of Kerala at plus 2 level. The figures were provided by the Directorate of Higher Secondary Education in response to an application filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

However, the state government of Kerala intends to sanction more higher secondary batches despite the excess of seats. The High Court had recently upheld the decision to start higher secondary batches in 148 grama panchayats which lack Plus-Two schools. The state government also plans to create additional batches in northern districts. The decision is likely to be implemented from this academic year itself and the admissions are likely to start soon. The vacancies in some of the districts are:

Malappuram - 4,762 vacancies

Palakkad - 2,336 vacancies

Thrissur (2,302) vacancies

Wayanad (454) vacancies

Critics have argued that sanctioning of additional batches is unwarranted. They have pointed to the figures of 2.95 lakh admission in Class I in 2012, and even with the presumption that all of them clear the Class X exam, there would be 3.45 lakh seats for 2.95 lakh students in 2022 at plus 2 level. Detractors have demanded a more scientific planning of the education system of the state.